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The 3rd installment of The Station Series has a cover and it is beautimus!

Thanks must be given to the designer, Deb Rogers, for her time and talent – thank you, friend!!!

So…feel free to sit back and stare for a bit…I am. 😀

Dying to Return is the 3rd book in the Young Adult Fantasy The Station Series. Piper Willow’s adventure in the afterlife continues as she struggles to discover who she is and what is expected of her. Faced with decisions that could change everything, she must weigh her desire to be with the ones she has come to love, or satisfy her curiosity and find out what lies beyond her world with someone new. What Piper experiences and the choices she makes could not only alter the delicate inner workings of the Station, but the delicate balance that Piper has managed to maintain inside herself. In the end, will it all be worth it?

Excerpt from the book:

A heaviness settles over the table and Andella is no longer giggling. “Why did you do it, Piper Willow?”

“Andella!” her father hisses. He seems embarrassed for her, but she holds my stare across the wide table. I see nothing sinister, just simple curiosity in her eyes.

I reach for my blue-tinted glass and sip at the water. Gulping down air, I try on my best smile and elbow Rush slightly when I feel his gentle prodding at the locked gates my mind.

“I can’t answer that. I mean…” I pause, allowing myself to reflect, “I guess I do know why. But I don’t know why I thought killing myself was the only option.” With a shrug, I sip more water.

Andella reclines slightly in her chair and nods. “Unlike my brother,” she shoots Rush a warm smile, “I have not traveled to your world, but I have seen into it. There is much sadness there. Such a loss of potential. I think you are different though. I think on some level, you must have known there was something else beyond your life. Did you not?”

I twirl the fabric napkin on my lap while considering the question carefully. “I think I just wanted that life to be over.” I feel the tears building up in my eyes as my voice drops to just above a whisper, “Some people call it Heaven, a better place after life. I didn’t care about Heaven or Hell, I just wanted out.”

A large hand reaches toward me and I look up through my blurred vision to find Andulen’s hand atop mine. Rush is also touching me, and though she’s clear across the table, I feel Andella’s calming presence as well.

“Child. You cannot fit your life into a square coffer. It will find a way to spill out over the sides and explore that which surrounds it. Even once that coffer is lidded, your life doesn’t cease to exist – you carry on. That is what you have done, Piper Willow. That is why you sit here with us this evening, eating and drinking and breathing. Your life – it will always struggle to stay outside that coffer. Do you understand this?”

I nod at Andulen and smile as he squeezes my hand before releasing it. My voice wouldn’t work even if I had words appropriate to use, so I sip from my tinted glass again.

“Now. I have serious matters to discuss about this Earth of yours. The first thing, a question I have had on my mind since my Son here breached the subject to me.” He pauses with his face set into a hard expression and I gulp. “Can you explain to me what Rugby is?”

That’s right! Okay, so now that the title has grabbed you, what the hell did I drag you over here for? Well, Moon Rose Publishing has just launched an Indiegogo campaign to expand their ranks. In less that a year, we have 15 authors signed up, and 12 books out so far, with 10 more planned for late 2013.

But they want to grow naturally, and allow more authors to realise their dream. But extra authors means extra formatting, editing, design, and marketing. And sadly, all of this costs money. So this is where you guys come in! You can help fund the next generation of quality books and their authors through Moon Rose Publishing by giving just a small donation.

BUT WAIT! That’s not all. You DO get perks in return for your wonderful contribution! They range from a thank you on the website, to your choice of free books, to actually BECOMING a character in one of my next books! Yes, you could choose the name, personality, look, and even what part they will play in the story.

So if you love books, authors, and the readers who make it all worthwhile, help out a publisher that wants to make indie books every bit as good as any from the Big 6. Just because they’re indie doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be high quality. And we’re committed to publishing books that have gripping stories, vivid characters, and high-quality throughout.

That’s right! You may have noticed there has been a total redesign of the blog, along with lots of new features added, and the ‘books’ section updated. There might be a few more changes coming, but it’s pretty much as it will be. I’ve enjoyed the old design, but it was up for a whole year, and it needed a breath of fresh air for 2013.

I have, sadly, removed the review/interview guidelines. I loved doing them, but due to a recent health scare, I will be taking on less of a workload. So I may still do reviews or interviews from time to time, but these will be from books I own and want to post a review for. Same goes for interviews, for any authors I may know personally.

But…I will be adding lots more sections to do with writing! I’ll be posting up bits on editing, writing, cover design, trailer design, and much more. A lot of these tips may turn up in a book at some point, as I am planning to write one a some point; a kind of ‘how-to’ book from penning the first page to making sales.

On a slight tangent, I’m also happy I have the chance to change the blog a little. This time last year, I was hoping for maybe 100 subscribers to my blog–I never expected to have over 8000! So thank you to each and every person who follows my scanty ravings on writing, and here’s to another wonderful and fun year! 🙂

Pack your bags! We’re going on a trip. The second installment of the Eternal series is about to be released! Like Witches? Love Vampires? What about a mysterious and magical island that can only be seen with a magic password? You can go there. I can take you. C’mon! *waves arm* I’ll help you pack!

About the Authors:
Kristie Haigwood (a.k.a. K.S. Haigwood) is currently writing her 8th novel. She lives in Arkansas, US. She is the mother of 2 awesome kids and 2 great dogs. She is happily married to her soulmate who thinks reading is a solid waste of time. Opposites attract. Kristie’s works include ‘Save My Soul’, ‘Forbidden Touch’, ‘Eternal Island’ and ‘Hell’s Gift’ (available on Amazon in ebook and print). ‘Eternal Immortality’, ‘Eternal Inception’, ‘The Last Assignment’ and ‘Good Side of Sin’ are all releasing soon.

Ella Medler is an author and playwright who lives in Cornwall, UK. She likes to experiment with different genres and is passionate about the human nature. Her works include the satire Martin Little, Resurrected, and the action thriller Blood is Heavier, both part of a series. Blood is Power is due for release in May 2013, and Martin Little Takes Epic Action, in summer 2013.

ABOUT THE ISLAND
A place where vampires rule, witches play, danger lurks and dreams really do come true.
Eternal Island is a paranormal suspense novel, deeply rooted into myth. Vampires and magic form a unique backdrop to a love story with long reaching consequences. Human girl Ariana Lochalan finds herself transported from the relative calm of her ‘Nowhere, Arkansas’ life into a diametrically opposite existence when she discovers she is a powerful witch and meant to wed High Vampire of Eternal Island, Abe Cambridge. Despite first-sight magnetism, the two protagonists are being pushed apart, obstacles tripping them at every step, outside forces interfering and threatening their peace, and ultimately their lives. A world rich in magic and intrigue, Eternal Island is the first instalment of a saga which has love at its core and delves through the mire that is human nature in a turmoil of feeling and emotion.
Would courage, resilience and love be enough to bring together two soul mates?
How much would you sacrifice to save the one who owns your heart?

COVER REVEAL OF ETERNAL IMMORTALITY

Kristie and Ella’s Gift to you!

In celebration of Eternal Immortality’s cover release, Kristie and Ella are making Eternal Island FREE April 5th! Grab it up and tell your friends, so they can too!

Welcome to the release tour of Lucius; The Fallen! The first in a hotly-anticipated series, it follows the leader of a band of hard-living, hard-drinking angels after their fall to earth. The series will span six books, each one more enticing than the last! Keep reading to find out more, and check out our giveaway at the end……AND a special surprise if you’ve ever wanted to ask the authors a question!

Blurb

“Relish this moment in My favor. It is your last.”

Six angels once sat at the right hand of The Almighty, but an ill-fated decision cast them out of Heaven. Now they serve Him on Earth, slaying demons for their redemption. They are…The Fallen.

Lucius, once revered at the side of God, fell to Earth with his brothers to pay penance and atone for his lapse in leadership. Wingless and forsaken, they have all paid a price for their complicity. Lucius’ hubris is now a curse, and he cannot rest until they carry out the last of The Almighty’s orders…and stop a war that has been millennia in the making.

Persephone Roberts is always in the right place at the right time, the serendipity allowing her to help people on her travels. When it leads her to cross paths with the band of hard-living fallen angels, she sets her sights on their leader, and is determined to restore Lucius’ faith in their quest. And in himself.

But the ancient evil the angels strive to fight has put Persephone in its crosshairs. It will be up to Lucius and his brothers to save her and destroy the minions of the dark. Can the amber-eyed beauty with her accepting heart heal wounds that cut soul deep, and force him to reclaim a glory he once tossed aside? Is he strong enough to realize the path back to Heaven begins with her, or will he be forever…fallen?

Trailer

Excerpt (18+)

The subtle whoosh of air from the doorway ahead made all five angels turn as one.

“Is there another one?” Lucius muttered. Turning to Domniel, he said, “Can you smell another one?”

Domniel lifted his head and walked toward the doorway. “Hard to tell. That smell’s everywhere. I’ll follow it and see what I find.”

“Good. Elijah, go with him,” Lucius said as he bent toward the pool of goo to begin purifying the remains. From the corner of his eye, Lucius watched Elijah nod and jog off to catch up with Domniel.

Task finished, he placed the vial of holy water in his pocket, and called after the blind angel. “Dom?”

“Yeah, man, out here.”

He motioned to Jude and Mordecai, and they ran across the street to another parking lot. He paused as he realized Domniel and Elijah weren’t alone.

A woman stared at them from across the lot. She looked calm. A dark halo of thick curls was pulled back tight, emphasizing an oval face and high cheekbones. The assassin-chic ensemble she sported could not detract from the feminine perfection she represented.

She laid smoldering eyes on them and growled, her voice smoky and rich, “Figures I would find pigeons here. It is the gutter, after all.”

Domniel’s head tilted and Lucius knew he was trying to locate her. He caught a whiff of sand and something exotic and ancient. He knew the blind angel had found her when he turned, putting his shades on her.

“Where the fuck did you come from?” Domniel snarled.

She laughed, the sultry sound designed to stir men’s loins. “A higher plane of existence, you useless bird.”

His dark sunglasses looked her up and down. “No shit, you a Jersey girl? That explains a lot.”

She glared at him before bringing her arm forward to reveal a flaming scimitar. “You pigeons always have to crap on somebody else’s sidewalk, don’t you?”

Lucius stepped forward and laid a hand on Domniel’s shoulder, urging him to stand down. Apprehension collided with recognition like a shot to his gut, and he gave the deposed goddess a slow, tight smile, hoping that this encounter would leave them with all their limbs.

“Hello, Khemrhy.”

“Do you have any idea what you just screwed up?” Khemrhy laid the scimitar across her back, the fire dying and sword disappearing before she leaned against an old Chevy pickup, one foot planted squarely on the front bumper.

Before anyone could slap a hand over his mouth, Domniel spouted, “Could it be your hot date for this century?”

Khemrhy smiled and stood back up. “No, you fool. You messed with my hunt. He was leading me back to something important. Not that you could ever understand that.”

Always cautious in his dealings with Khemrhy, Lucius put a hand over Domniel’s mouth and said, “We think there’s a second one. Did you see anything?”

“Of course. The other one went that way,” she said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to indicate the alley behind her. Something about it seemed too simple, but a gust of wind brought the stench of brimstone strong enough that they could all smell it.

As Lucius, Jude, and Mordecai began to head past Khemrhy, they instinctively gave her a wide berth. From behind them, Domniel said, “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on her. I still don’t trust the bitch.”

“Little hard to keep an eye on someone when you’re blind, pigeon,” she quipped. “Maybe you should get a dog.”

Lucius heard Domniel mouthing off in the distance and rolled his eyes, hoping she didn’t remove any limbs. This time.

“A dog, huh? You’ll do. Let me see if I can find a leash and a muzzle,” Domniel snapped back. “Though you might be a little front end heavy to be running around on hands and knees, fetching shit for me.”

As the wind picked up, Lucius could see Domniel’s head swivel as he struggled to locate Khemrhy’s dissipating scent. Elijah signed to him in a panic, the fluttering of his fingers reaching through to the blind angel.

“Shit! Shit! Shit! I lost her! Where is she? I don’t speak finger-fuck!”

Lucius whirled in a circle, hoping that even he could get a quick scent to target the goddess.

Ten feet in front of his sightless brother, Khemrhy growled, “I’ve got a front end for you.” And then the truck came crashing down on Domniel.

From his viewpoint behind Domniel, Lucius watched as Khemrhy planted her boot on the truck’s bumper and pushed down hard to lever it upward. When she started pushing down with her foot, Elijah began frantically signing the word, “Chevy” to no avail. As the truck stood on end, she reached down, grabbed the bumper, and swung the entire vehicle over her head.

The pickup came down in a barrage of creaking steel, slamming Domniel hard into the pavement. He gave a loud, anguished grunt as Elijah ran to his side. Twisted metal groaned as Elijah tried to maneuver chunks of the vehicle up off him.

“Get…off me… fucking bitch!” he gurgled. Khemrhy laughed as she made her way to a Triumph motorbike parked beneath one of the street lights.

Lucius and Jude ran to assist. “What the fuck happened? Dom?”

“Chevy half-ton pickup,” Elijah signed to Lucius.

Lucius winced, reaching for parts of the vehicle. “Ouch.”

The sound of the Triumph’s throttle rumbling got their attention and they turned. Khemrhy smiled back, flipping them her middle finger before roaring off down the street.

Domniel lay on his back, his chest caved in, laboring for enough breath to groan.

Domniel wheezed, turned his head and spat out two bloody teeth. “Get ‘Magic Fingers’ over here – good to go.”

Elijah tapped Lucius on the shoulder and gestured to Domniel.

“Yeah,” Lucius nodded. “Do your thing. And get him to walk. I’m not fucking carrying his wiseass back.”

They came forward and closed ranks, making a circle around him. Elijah knelt down next to the blind angel, stretched out his hands and cracked his knuckles.

“Just fucking get to it, mute. My balls are wedged up in my ribcage.” Domniel’s eyes fluttered closed in between gasps.

Jude snorted. “Why can’t you be the mute?”

Lucius held a hand up, silencing them.

Elijah rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes. The silent angel’s hands trembled for a moment and then glowed with a soft, white light. He placed both of them, palms down, on what was left of Domniel’s chest and took a deep breath.

Domniel lit up, his chest echoing the glow from Elijah’s hands, and he let out a deep, relaxing sigh. “Fuck, yeah. I bet the chicks love that shit.”

“Shut up,” Lucius warned.

Domniel sighed again and gave into the healing.

Author Bios

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she’s watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series.

Lorecia is a native Houstonian who did not escape in her adulthood. So she camps out in NW Houston concocting her own special variety of chaos but rarely finishes it without the continual prodding of best friend Tara. She loves to laugh, bead, write, eat and hug kitties. She also loves to have fun and can usually be found on any given Friday night off chatting her head off at Denny’s with her bestie.

And now for the giveaway—and that special surprise! As part of the tour, the author will be answering your questions about Lucius and writing LIVE on April 29th, via Google+ Hangouts! To take part, all you need to do is go to the event page here at http://www.moonrosepublishing.com/#!author-questions–lucius-the-fallen/cfzv and post the question that you would like to be answered. The best ones will be chosen, and as many as possible answered within a 30 minute session. The address to watch and take part in the Hangout will be posted a week before, and you must follow Moon Rose Publishing on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/114000878667510243231/posts Have fun!

Hey everyone! I know I normally post up exciting new books to read, and exciting authors to find, but today a really sweet message from one of my readers made me want to write this post. It’s a little different from my usual stuff, but it needs saying.

First of all….we love you all. Readers who are also writers, readers who are not, readers who read a lot and those who don’t. We love you all.

Because without readers, what purpose would we have? Every time we get a good review, or a message from someone telling you they liked your book, it lights an author up from the inside. Not because of the praise itself, not because of the teensy ego boost, not because it nets us more readers.

Because you enjoyed it.

Our whole purpose–sometimes one that takes up our whole lives, and can become an obsession–is to create. We create worlds. We create escapism. We create a place unlike any here in the real world. We create characters. We create people you hate, people you love. There is a driving need in every author, whether they call it a ‘voice’, a muse, or any other name, to put these stories down on paper for others to read. It’s a tradition that has its roots set in the bards and story-tellers of ancient times, throwing their arms in dramatic gestures and frightening tribes with monsters and ethereal beings around a hot fire.

We write because we must. For some, writing is a hobby. For others, it’s something they need to do, otherwise they would go mad. All writers would write even if no-one read their offerings. But when someone does enjoy them, it’s phenomenal.

The feeling that we’re not just writing for ourselves, for our own fantasies, is an incredible one. When a reader says they enjoy our writing, it’s like that reader saying, “I hear you. You’re not on your own there. I agree, and I love it as much as you do.” It’s a big feeling, to know that we’re not on our own in some way. It’s also a big feeling to know that someone else lives in that crazy world of ours, somewhere between reality and fiction. But it’s even bigger than that. It’s what we did for someone else.

You have no idea how fulfilling it is to know we’ve not only written something for ourselves, but that it made someone else happy. That just for a little while, we made someone else’s problems go away. That for a little while, the real world didn’t exist, and you were a spectator somewhere else. That for a little while, you understood why we needed that world as much as you do. That for a little while, you could escape, and come back feeling hopeful, jubilant, confident, or even more thoughtful about the real world.

So, in effect, MWAH. Thank you, readers. The biggest thank you I’ve ever given anyone. Without you, we wouldn’t be authors. And that’s the biggest gift, for me personally, anyone could ever give me. I hope you keep enjoying our escapism as much as we enjoy writing it.

I’m going to stop being soppy now, and get back to writing. I’ve got an escape to paranormal territory to write! 😀 xxxx

The wheel of the year turns, bringing the joy of spring, the warmth of summer, the richness of autumn, and the merriment of winter. But eight Celtic festivals link these seasons together, bringing with them romance, lust, danger, and even magic. From a city under threat from night-time creatures at Ostara, to a selkie caught by the light of the Lughnasadh moon, to a writer caught in the flames of a fiery goddess at Imbolc.

Eight authors have come together to give their own twist on these festivals, weaving each story with a blend of myth, magic, and contemporary telling…to create A Celtic Tapestry.

Memphis. The favourite place of a hard working public-relations employee, whose life is good, but without surprise…until she has a chance meeting with James Wellington on Yule night, throwing her world upside-down.

And now for the giveaway! Well, what IS the free stuff? Moon Rose Publishing, as part of the A CELTIC TAPESTRY tour, is giving away a ton of good stuff. You could win a print copy of A CELTIC TAPESTRY, a sticker pack, bookmarks, a beautiful necklace and jewelled bookmark from Tara S Wood, or an e-book of the anthology!

LOST and FOUND, book 2 of the Find Me Series hits the Amazon eBook shelves on Friday, March 15th! Are you ready to find out what happens next?

She survived Earth’s worst global pandemic. In the city she learned how to cope with the roaming dead. Tucked away in the mountains she struck down the living who tried to kill her. Now Riley fights a new battle – the one within herself. Wracked with survivor’s guilt and an almost crazed sense of duty that takes her out of the solitude of the Southern California mountains and into the heart of Orange County, she makes a series of choices that can lead to the destruction of everything she’s managed to save.

In the end, will it all be worth it? What will be lost? What will be found? And which questions will be left unanswered?

When Witches Go Bad…

First Of The Pagan Year Warriors

Samhain - it all goes wrong for one young woman when she and a friend play with the shadows one night...

A Grim Reaper With A Difference…

When a headstrong young man dies, he is given the chance to redeem himself...and another.

The Grim Alliance Continues…

Gabe has a past even the other Reapers shudder at...will it haunt him forever?

The Third Installment Of The Grim Alliance

Alisha was always close to her sister - but can she stand by when her life is threatened, even knowing she will no longer be a Reaper?

The Fourth Book In The Grim Alliance

No one's love life is easy - but when twins Drew and Devin fall for the same girl, it can be catastrophic...

The Grim Alliances Continues!

Mika has always felt more out of place and time than the other Reapers - but will she be in time to rescue a Valkyrie she can't take her eyes off?

The Book That Started Them All…

A werewolf tale that combines suspense, romance, thriller, and horror. The first book I ever wrote.

The Book That Continued Erin And Conner’s Story…

The continuation of Conner and Erin's story, with more twists and turns, more werewolves, and more plot surprises you never saw coming.

The Final Chapter To Conner And Erin…

Yes, I've been nudged into deciding to write the final book for Conner and Erin. It was never meant to be written, but it's going to focus on Filtiarn and what happened between the ancient events, and the present day.